Sudeva said: There is a virtuous and illustrious king of the Vidharbhas, named Bhima, whose daughter is this blessed lady, known by the name of Damayanti.

Also there is the king of the Nishadhas, named Nala, who is the son of Virasena. This blessed damsel is the daughter of that virtuous and intelligent monarch.

That ruler of the earth was defeated at dice by his brother; and, thereby deprived of his kingdom, went away with Damayanti without the knowledge of any body.

We (the Brahmanas) are roving over the whole world for the sake of Damayanti, which lady is at last discovered in the palace of your son.

There exists no woman like her in beauty. This maiden of unchanging youth has a beautiful mark, from her birth, resembling a lotus. This freckle was seen by me; but now it has disappeared, owing to its being soiled with dust, even as the moon seems to vanish when covered over with clouds.

That mark of prosperity and wealth, made and given to her by God, is now faintly seen, even as the crescent of the new moon does faintly shine, in the evening of the first day. Although her body is soiled with dust, yet her beauty has not suffered. And again her person, though not washed, is conspicuous and shines like gold. This celestials lady was ascertained by me by my identifying her form as well as that mark (between the eye-brows), even as fire though hid (in ashes) is ascertained by its heat.

O monarch! Sunanda, having heard the words of Sudeva, cleaned the dust that soiled ile freckle (between the eye-brows of Damayanti).

The mole of Damayanti, having been cleared of the bad dust, became conspicuous like the moon, which appears in the sky when the clouds are dispersed.

O Bharata! seeing that mark, Sunanda as well as the mother of the king, wept; and, embracing her, stood there for some time.

Shedding tcars and in a low voice, the Queen-mother said, 'Know by this your mole, you are the daughter of my sister.

O handsome looking one! myself and your mother are the daughters of that illustrious king, Sudaman, who is the ruler of the Dasharnas.

She was given to king Bhima and myself was given to Virabahu. I saw you were born at our father's palace in the country of the Dasharmas.

O beauteous lady! as is your father's house, so is mine, to you. O Damayanti! my wealth is to you, cven as your own.

O monarch! thereupon Damayanti, having bowed down unto her with a delightful heart,

“Although I stayed here unrecognised, still I lived with your happily and supplied with all the objects of my desire and ever protected by you.

Undoubtedly I shall have a happier abode than this. Therefore, O mother, grant permission unto me, who am ever living in exile.

My children, the son and daughter, were led to my father's palace, where they are living now, hard pressed with sorrow on account of their separation from their father and mother.

Should you wish to do me some good order at once a vehicle; for I am desirous to go to the country of the Vidharbhas.” Thereupon, O monarch, saying, “So be it,” the sister of Damayanti's mother, the queen-mother highly satisfied and with the permission of her son, sent away Damayanti in a beautiful vehicle conveyed by men and guarded by a strong force, as also the lady, O the foremost of the descendants of Bharata, was provided with tasteful food and drink and valuable dresses.

Then the lady immediately went away to the country of the Vidharbhas, where all her friends and relatives, satisfied with her arrival, offered praises to her.

O king, beholding that her relatives, her son and daughter, father and mother and all her companions were at peace, the goddess-like and all-glorious Damayanti worshipped the gods and the Brahmanas in the best way.

The king, beholding his daughter, became gratified and presented to Sudeva a thousand kine, immense fortune and a village.

O monarch! the handsome lady having spent there the whole night at her father's palace and taken perfect rest, addressed her mother thus:

Damayanti said : O mother! should you desire me to live, I tell the truth, take care to bring here that hero among men, viz., Nala.

Thus addressed by Damayanti,"the goddesslike queen became greatly afflicted with grief and was suffused with tears and spoke nothing to her in reply.

Thereupon all the inmates of the king's harem uttered the exclamations of 'Oh'! and 'Alas'! at this dangerous situation of Damayanti and also wept most bitterly.

Then the queen spoke to the illustrious king, Bhima, thus: 'Your daughter, Damayanti, is lamenting, for her husband.

O monarch! unblushed with shame, Damayanti herself said that my men should try to find out the whereabouts of that virtuous king (Nala).

Thus urged by the queen, the king sent out the dependant Brahmanas in all directions; and enjoined them to strive to find out the whereabouts of king Nala.

Thereupon, at the injunction of the king of the Vidharbhas, all the Brahmanas approached Damayanti and told her that they were going away (for searching Nala).

Then the daughter of Bhima asked them to repeat, in all countries and before all crowds of men, these words.

'O gambler, O beloved one, did you tear off a half of my cloth and flee away forsaking your dear and devoted wife sleeping in the forest?

'Indeed, in obedience to your command that lady, covered in half a piece of cloth and greatly burning with woe, is ever expecting you.

'O monarch, O mighty one, do you answer; and do you show favour to her, who is ever weeping on account of that woe.'

Do you cry, saying this and the like, viz., fire (here compared with grief of Damayanti), led by the wind (compared with time), consumes the forest (compared with the body of Damayanti); and then the lord will pity me.

Further do you cry, saying: "The wife is always to be maintained and protected by the husband. You are righteous and honest as well. Why, therefore, these virtues of yours are being neglected by you.

You are well reputed, wise, respectable and always kind. But why now have you become unkind; and that is perhaps for the reason of my adverse fortune.

O foremost of men, O the most excellent of persons, be you kind to me. For I have heard from you, that kindness is the chief virtue.”

If anybody answer you, as you would speak in this way, that man should be known by you in every way; and also it should be learnt what is he and where does he live.

O excellent of the regenerate ones! do you convey to me the words of that man who, hearing these words of yours, will answer you.

Do you take care that no body should know that these words are uttered by you at my behest; neither do you do such to return to me.

You should know whether the man is rich or poor or powerless; and know also his desires.

O king, thus advised, the Brahmanas departed in all directions in order to search for Nala, who had fallen into such great calamity. O monarch, the regenerate ones wandered in the cities, kingdoms, villages, the dwellings of the cowherds and the retreats of he sages in search of king Nala.

O ruler of the earth, all the Brahmanas repeated the words, wherever they wandered, which Damayanti had enjoined them to do.